Empress Rises: Prime Video’s Enchanting New Fantasy Series

by

Amazon’s Prime Video might be on to something big in the fantasy genre, as they have secured the rights for the “Rise of the Empress” series. This series, penned by Julie C. Dao, begins with the 2017 novel “Forest of a Thousand Lanterns”. The “Rise of the Empress” books seamlessly blend fantasy, romance, and a strong East Asian cultural influence. After its debut, it was continued with “Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix” in 2018, followed by the spin-off “Song of the Crimson Flower” in 2019.

It has been announced that Amazon’s Prime Video is developing a series from Julie C. Dao’s book series “Rise of the Empress.” The eight-episode show will be written, produced, and overseen by Crystal Liu (from “American Horror Story”) and James Wong, who will serve as writers, executive producers, and showrunners. Gemma Chan from “Eternals” is also on board as an Executive Producer, working alongside Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, and Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi’s Significant Productions, both of which have exclusive production deals with Amazon MGM Studios. Crystal Liu expressed her enthusiasm for the project in a statement to Variety.

I’m thrilled and elated to have the chance to adapt Julie C. Dao’s exceptional novels into a movie – an opulent, enchanting story filled with mystery, featuring a groundbreaking heroine destined to become timeless. I feel incredibly fortunate to be starting this adventure alongside the legendary James Wong and our outstanding producers JuVee, Significant, and Gemma Chan. Plus, I couldn’t hope for a better collaborator than Amazon to help create this bold, daring new universe inspired by the extraordinary, dark twists we humans undergo in the name of love.

The synopsis for this series presents it as follows: “In a mystical ancient Asian realm, on the brink of collapse due to treacherous infighting, salvation may lie in a regal union between the dashing Crown Prince and a noblewoman from one of the warring kingdoms. As the competition intensifies for the prince’s hand, turmoil ensues when an ordinary village girl named Xifeng is thrust into the romantic fray by a spiteful sorceress. In this enchanting tale of love and political intrigue, can Xifeng not only secure her own future but also save the entire empire?

In this captivating narrative, a strong and inspiring female protagonist takes center stage. The teams at JuVee, Significant, and Gemma, under the leadership of Crystal, have done an outstanding job in encapsulating the enchantment that Julie has woven into the story. We’re excited to introduce James to our Prime Video audience worldwide, as he joins us in bringing this fantastic production to life in a way that will deeply connect with them.

The Streaming Race for Fantasy YA Material

Ever since “Game of Thrones” concluded in 2019, every streaming platform has been eagerly seeking the next big fantasy hit to add to their lineup by acquiring large-scale fantasy stories. Amazon Prime Video spent $250 million on the rights alone for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” not counting production costs, and while it’s been successful, it hasn’t quite reached the heights Amazon may have anticipated. Now, Amazon is turning to young adult fantasy stories like “Rise of the Empress” in hopes of appealing to a younger demographic. Additionally, Amazon is working on a TV series based on Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing,” produced by Michael B. Jordan for them.

Additionally, other production companies are now obtaining the rights to various well-known young adult fantasy novels that have gained traction on TikTok. For instance, Netflix has secured the rights for Callie Hart’s fantasy romance novel “Quicksilver” and Ana Huang’s “Twisted Love” series. The intriguing concept of “Rise of the Empress” may benefit from Amazon Prime Video’s resources, potentially expanding its global audience, making the story accessible to a broader range of people who might not have encountered the original book series.

You can purchase “Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix,” and “Song of the Crimson Flower” at any bookstore or online retailer.

Read More

2025-01-22 23:33